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14 / 04 / 2026
The Difference in Intention in the Obligatory Prayer Between the Imam and the Follower
I prayed Maghrib with an Imam who turned out to be praying Asr. When I entered the first rak'ah, which was the second for him, I prayed three rak'ahs with him. When he stood for the third rak'ah, which was the second for me, I stood up and completed with him. Is my prayer valid?
Answer
I say, and with God's help: The prayer of the imam and the follower must be united; if they differ, the prayer of the follower is invalid, just as if someone prays Maghrib behind someone praying Asr, the prayer of the follower is nullified. And God knows best.
